Layout Preservation when Switching Between Layouts

In the program settings, I have the "At Startup Open to" option set to "Most recent layout-any".

While working with a single layout, this works great for opening the layout to where I left off after closing and reopening Logos. But if I'm working with layout 1, then open layout 2 without first selecting the "Update active" option for layout 1, when I go back to layout 1 (even in the same Logos session), layout 1 is no longer as it was when I switched to layout 2--it has reverted back to whatever it looked like when I last ran the "Update active" option for it.

The bottom line is, a layout (panels, tabs, and resource locations) is automatically preserved when closing and reopening Logos, but not when leaving and then coming back to the layout. I expect that's just the way it is and I'll have to reconstruct the layout (including all the resource locations) if I forget to run the "Update active" option on a layout before opening another one, but this has bit me often enough that I'm hoping there's a way to change this behavior that I'm just not aware of.

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Lonnie Spencer

Rick, I wish I had a dollar for every time I have closed a layout and had forgotten to update. I could probably afford the portfolio level of Logos.

I don't think there is a solution outside of forcing yourself to remember to up-date your layout often. I feel your frustration.

What would help is if there would be an automatic snapshot of when a layout was closed instead of a automatic layout snapshot when the program closes.

Rick Ausdahl

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/832392#Comment_832392

Rick, I wish I had a dollar for every time I have closed a layout and had forgotten to update. I could probably afford the portfolio level of Logos.

I don't think there is a solution outside of forcing yourself to remember to up-date your layout often. I feel your frustration.

What would help is if there would be an automatic snapshot of when a layout was closed instead of a automatic layout snapshot when the program closes.

I can appreciate this default behavior if the view taken is that you may have a layout just the way you want it and work with it most of the time, and yet you want to be able to tweak it for specific purposes without losing the original layout. In fact, I suppose some people take comfort in this behavior, knowing they can mess with the layout all they want without having to worry about losing the last version of the layout that they actually did the update procedure on.

It would be nice though to have a program settings option to ask if you wanted to update the active layout when opening another one. I guess I just get so use to the layout being the way I left it when closing and restarting Logos, that it's just not at all intuitive to me that it wouldn't be where I left it when switching to a different layout and then back again.

Mike Binks

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/832465#Comment_832465

Have I misunderstood the question or the problem?

Dave Hooton

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/832517#Comment_832517

Have I misunderstood the question or the problem?

The problem is that the named layouts may not be in "the state you last left them", unless you manually "update active". The "Application Closed" are the state of your layout when you successfully exited Logos, but precisely which named layout, as you have to rename it to be useful.

So if you switch named layouts in the same session you will lose changes unless you first "update active".

Rick Ausdahl

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/832524#Comment_832524

Mike and Dave,

Thank you both for your posts.

I have in the past attempted to use the time-stamped layouts on the right side of the layouts drop-down to locate a layout as it was when I last switched layouts. It's been quite a while since I tried that though because although I no longer remember the details of my attempts, what I do remember is not being able to locate a copy/version of the layout from the list that would bring everything (panels, resource tabs, and resource locations) back to what the layout looked like when I switched layouts without remembering to apply the "Update active" option first. It goes back to that saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." About all I can say is shame on me for playing the fool over and over and over. As noted in a previous post, I guess I get so used to Logos having my back when I close and start Logos sessions, I get complacent and forget it doesn't have my back when changing layouts. And I think the problem of my complacency is exacerbated by the fact that when I open a layout, I tend to remain on that layout for several Logos sessions at a time. The problem could easily be resolved by either me remembering that Logos doesn't have my back when switching layouts, or by Logos providing the option to update the active layout when switching layouts.

I do appreciate Mike's post though, and think I'll try playing around with the fluid layouts again, but I have a feeling my lack of success in the past was a result of what Dave explained so well, in which case I'll just have to deal with the frustration until I learn to stop playing the fool. [;)]

Doc B

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/832541#Comment_832541

I don't recall ever forgetting to "update active", but then, I cheat: I put an "update active" on the shortcut bar so it is right there in front of me and I can hit it as often as I want.

Perhaps creating the shortcut would help you.

Rick Ausdahl

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/832553#Comment_832553

I don't recall ever forgetting to "update active", but then, I cheat: I put an "update active" on the shortcut bar so it is right there in front of me and I can hit it as often as I want.

Perhaps creating the shortcut would help you.

It's a little embarrassing, but I have to admit I did that long ago. [:$] The problem is I forget I need to update the layout when changing from one layout to another. [:S] If only there was a way to make the icon expand in size and blink on and off when changing layouts. [:^)]

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/832555#Comment_832555

The problem is I forget I need to update the layout

The old chair to keyboard interface problem ... that's a tricky one.[;)]

James Taylor

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/832596#Comment_832596

The old chair to keyboard interface problem

Nice

Rick Ausdahl

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/832596#Comment_832596

The problem is I forget I need to update the layout

The old chair to keyboard interface problem ... that's a tricky one.

Yeeup! In fact, if I was granted a wish to solve just one problem in my life, that's the one I'd go for as it would solve most of my other problems as well. [:D]

Rick Ausdahl

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/832555#Comment_832555

I don't recall ever forgetting to "update active", but then, I cheat: I put an "update active" on the shortcut bar so it is right there in front of me and I can hit it as often as I want.

Perhaps creating the shortcut would help you.

It's a little embarrassing, but I have to admit I did that long ago. The problem is I forget I need to update the layout when changing from one layout to another. If only there was a way to make the icon expand in size and blink on and off when changing layouts.

OK, Doc B... you encouraged me to take another look at using the shortcut bar and I think I had made two mistakes in how I had it set up. The first was "Location! Location! Location!" The update layout icon was near the far left side of the shortcut bar and mixed in with several other tool shortcut icons--not the most likely place a person will be looking for reminders when the layout selection button is on the far right. The second mistake was the icon itself--a dull grey, non-descript thing that you'd hardly notice if looking right at it. So I changed the icon to a bright red flag and moved it to the right side of the shortcut bar where's it's nice and close to the layout selection button.

I guess only time will tell if it solves the problem, but it has potential and sure can't do any harm. If it doesn't do the trick, just color me hopeless. [:)]

Doc B

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/832662#Comment_832662

So I changed the icon to a bright red flag and moved it to the right side of the shortcut bar where's it's nice and close to the layout selection button.

That's a start. I used a text label for that icon, along with a couple others.Get used to clicking on it often and I think your batting average will improve!

Speaking of which, the very truncated icon set provided by Logos is part of the problem. A user-customizable set would be better. I started a UserVoice item for this a couple years back, and anyone reading this who sees the obvious utility may wish to go vote for it. It can be found here-

https://logos.uservoice.com/forums/42823-logos-bible-software-6/suggestions/4293374-allow-users-to-customize-shortcut-bar-icons

Lonnie Spencer

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/832720#Comment_832720

I found the "update active" in the layouts menu but I can't move it up to the shortcuts bar. How can I do this?

Rick Ausdahl

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/832725#Comment_832725

I found the "update active" in the layouts menu but I can't move it up to the shortcuts bar. How can I do this?

I thought that when I had done this long ago, it was one of the options on the Tools menu, but I can't find it anywhere now. But with a little playing around, I found that if I type "update active layout" in the command box (without the parens), I can select that text and drag it over to the shortcut bar and drop it there. Logos will create a default icon for it that you can then change if desired.

Lonnie Spencer

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/832762#Comment_832762

Got it! Thanks a lot Rick. Now I just need to remember to click on it- a lot. I voted for Doc's suggestion and hope it becomes a reality someday

Rick Ausdahl

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/832720#Comment_832720

So I changed the icon to a bright red flag and moved it to the right side of the shortcut bar where's it's nice and close to the layout selection button.

That's a start. I used a text label for that icon, along with a couple others.Get used to clicking on it often and I think your batting average will improve!

Speaking of which, the very truncated icon set provided by Logos is part of the problem. A user-customizable set would be better. I started a UserVoice item for this a couple years back, and anyone reading this who sees the obvious utility may wish to go vote for it. It can be found here-

https://logos.uservoice.com/forums/42823-logos-bible-software-6/suggestions/4293374-allow-users-to-customize-shortcut-bar-icons

My vote has been added. [:)]